Doubletree and whiffletree coupling.



v PATENTBD PEB. 6, 1906. G. E. RUMRILL.

DOUBLETR ND WHIFFLET COUPLING.

AP ATION FILED APRA 5.

H nnn "ilk nuni-Ilm III Il-Illll'lllll-IIIIII llllllllllll! @HoznuzNITED STATES PATENT ormoni.

GEORGE EDWARD RUMRILL, OF OARROLLTON, ILLINOIS.

Speeicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1906.A

Application led April 19,1905. Serial No. 256,336.

To @ZZ whom t concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE EDWARD RUM- RILL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Carrollton, in the county of Greene and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDoubletree and Whiffletree Couplings; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable -others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in coupling devices, andparticularly to whiffletree-couplings.

One of the objects of the invention is the construction of a couplingdevice employing two peculiarly-constructed plates or members which areremovably secured together.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a coupling devicewhich may be employed for connecting a whiffletree to a doubletree orfor connecting a doubletree to the tongue of a vehicle.

A still further object of the invention is the construction of acoupling device which entirely encircles the whiflietree and does notemploy means extending through the same for holding said whiffletreeupon the doubletree.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certainnovel constructions and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafterspecifically described, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a device constructed inaccordance with the present invention, showing the same applied to adoubletree. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the devicedepicted in Fig. 1, showing a portion of a doubletree and a whiffletreein section. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the upper primary plate.Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the lower or auxiliary plate. Fig. 5 isa perspective view of the clip or yoke. Fig. 6 is a top plan view ofanother embodiment of the present invention. 7 is a fragmentarysectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 6. l

Referring to the drawingsl by numerals, l designates a doubletree uponwhich is secured, by means of my coupling device, a whiiiietree 2. y

The primary or upper plate 3 is removably secured upon an auxiliary orlower plate 4. The primary plate comprises a substantially flat bodyprovided with integral extended portions 5 5, within which are formedapertures 6. The apertures 6 may be employed for xedly securing thewhifiietree 2 against longitudinal movement by inserting any suitableshort fastening means, as small screws, into the bottom portion of thewhiffletrees through said apertures 6. Lateral extensions 7 7 are formedupon the plate 3. Each of said extensions 7 is provided with an aperture8 for receiving the reduced threaded ends 9 of the clip or yoke 10. Thetop or upper portion of the clip or yoke 1() is provided with an annularextension 11. The annular extension 11 is provided with a threadedaperture 12. The clip is removably secured upon the upper or primaryplate 3 by means of nuts 13. Upon the upper or primary plate 3andcontiguous to the lateral extension 7 is formed parallel guides orribs 14. The ribs 14 are provided with a vertical edge 15 and with aconcave top surface 16. An integral primary extension 17 is formed uponthe bottom of the upper or )rimary plate 3. An integral annular auxiiary extension 18 projects from said primary extension 17. yThe upper orprimary plate 3 is provided with a squared socket 19 and with anaperture 20. This socket 19 and aperture 20 are formed centrally of theplate.

The auxiliary plate 4 comprises a flat body portion provided withapertures 21. The apertures 21 are formed for receiving fastening meanswhereby said plate 4 is secured to a support-as, for instance, thedoubletree 1. An annular hollow extension 22 is formed upon the bodyportion of the plate 4 for receiving the auxiliary annular extension 1Sof the upper or primary plate 3. The plate 4 is provided with a centralaperture 23, which registers, when the primary and auxiliary plates areassembled, with aperture for permitting of the insertion of thedraft-bolt 24, which is removably secured in position upon the supportby means of nuts 25 and 26. The nut 26 constitutes a locking member forpreventing the nut 25 from being removed under normal conditions. Theannular extension 22 is provided with squared notches 27,' which receiveportions of the nuts 13 when the elements constituting the device are intheir normal assembled position.

After the primary and auxiliary plates have been positioned as shown inFig. 2 the bolt 24 is passed through the apertures 20 and 23, as well asthe aperture formed in the doubletree 1. The bolt 24 is provided withTOO IIO

. prevented. After the a squared head 28, which is of less thicknessthan the width of the squared recess 19. It will be seen upon referringto Fig. 2 that there is a slight space between the head 28 and the wallsof the recess 19. The object of having the head smaller than the recess19, so that said head will not fit snugly within said recess, is that itis desirable to allow of slight movement of the upper orwhiffletree-carrying plate 3 without movin the draft-bolt 24. It willalso be obvious tghat owing to the squared structure of the recess 19and the head 28 rotary movement of said bolt will be plates have beenassembled the clip or yoke 10 is positioned upon the upper or primaryplate, as shown in Fig. 1. The nuts 13 secure the clip in a fixedposition upon the primary plate. After the plates and clip have beenassembled the clevis 29 is positioned upon the upper portion of the clipand end of the draft-bolt 24. The crownbolt 30 is positioned within theupper apertured portion of the clevis and is threaded into the aperture12 of'theclip 10.

Referring to Fig. 6, I have shown an embodiment of my inventionillustratin the means whereby the plates may be emp oyed for securing awhiffletree or doubletree to the tongue of a vehicle. In this embodimentI use substantially the same parts as in my preferredstructure, except Iemploy in the place of the clevis 29 a hammer-strap 31, which is iixedlysecured at 32 to the tongue. The metallic strap 31 is apertured upon itsouter end for receiving the crown-bolt 30 in the same manner as whenemploying the clevis. Of course it will be obvious that when thecoupling device is positioned upon the tongue of a vehicle the cleviscould not be used, as it is positioned upon the side of the whiiiietreeand exactly where the tongue is positioned--that is, at right angles tothe f whifiietree.

In Fig. 7 instead of using the crown-bolt 30 I form an integralextension 33 upon the clip 10a and position the apertured end of thehammer-strap 31 upon said extension. rIhe extension 33 is screw-threadedfor receiving a nut 34. y

It is to be noted that the head 28 of draftbolt 24 does not extend intothe whiietree. Furthermore, I do not weaken the whiffletree by extendinga bolt through the same, as is common in the art. The strength of thewhifiietree is greatly increased by obviating the necessity of weakeningthe same by extending bolts through the same for securing any or all ofthe parts of a device together.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 the plate 4 is provided with squaredrecesses 27 a, formed'at right angles to the notches '27 of the plate 4.(Shown in Fig. 4.) The notches formed as shown in Fig. 4 are notnecessary when the upper plate 3 is positioned as shown in Fig. 6, or,in other words, when plate 3 is siaoe positioned at right angles toplate 4 the nuts 13 will engage opposite portions of the plate 4 whenthe plates are arranged as shown in Fig. 2, thereby necessitating theforming of notches 27a and preferably omitting the notches 27.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-

1. A device of the character described comprising a primary plateprovided with a central squared recess and an aperture, parallel ribsformed upon said plate, each of said ribs provided with a concave uppersurface and with a vertical side, Lsaid plate provided with an annularextension formed upon its base, anV auxiliary plate provided with ahollow annular extension projecting from its upper face, said 'annularextension of the auxiliary plate provided with squared notches, adraft-bolt positioned upon and securing said plates together, aremovable carried by said primary plate, said removable clip providedwith a threaded aperture, a clevis provided with apertured endspositioned upon said clip and draft-bolt, a crownbolt positioned withinone of the apertures of said clevis and threaded into the aperture ofsaid clip, and means carried by said draftbolt for securing said clevisin a fixed position thereon.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with asupport, of a primary and an auxiliary plate, parallel ribs formed uponsaid primary plate, each of said ribs provided with a beveled uppersurface, said primary plate provided with a recess, a bolt provided witha squaredhead positioned upon said plates, the squared head of said clipl i bolt positioned within the squared recess of said primary plate, aremovable clip carried by said primary plate, and means connecting theupperportion of said clip and the lower portion of said bolt with saidsupport.

3. A device of the character described comprisinga primary and anauxiliary plate, said primary plate, provided with an annular downwardextension and a squared central recess, said auxiliary plate providedwith an annular extension, said extension provided` with notches formedupon its periphery means for securing said plates together, a clipcarried by said primary plate, and means for securing said clip in afixed position upon said plate. v 4. A device of the character describedcomprising a primary and an auxiliary plate, said prima plate providedwith ribs, each of said ribs aving a beveled upper face and a verticalside, means together, a clip carried by said plates, means for securingsaid clip, primary and auxiliary plates in an assembled position.

5. In a device of the character described the combination with asupport, of an auxiliary plate carried by said support, said auxilforsecuring said plates4 ISO Siaoe iary plate provided With a centralrecess and an aperture, squared notches formed upon said auxiliaryplate, a primary plate provided With an aperture and an annularextension positioned upon said auxiliary plate, and having the annularextension projecting into the central recess, said primary plateprovided With apertured, lateral extensions, ribs formed contiguous tosaid lateral extensions upon said plate, each of said ribs provided Withbeveled and vertical faces, said primary plate provided With a squaredcentral recess and an aperture, the aperture of said primary plateregistering with the aperture of said auxiliary plate, a draft-boltprovided with a squared head positioned Within the central aperture ofsaid primary plate and the registering a erture of said auxiliary plate,the squared ead of said draft-bolt positioned Within the s uared recessof said primary plate, a removab e clip carried by said primary plate,the ends of said clip positioned Within the apertured portion of saidlateral extensions, nuts positioned upon the ends of said clip, andmeans carried by said support and connecting the clip and draft-boltWith said support.

6. A coupling device comprising a primary plate provided With parallelribs, each rib provided with vertical and beveled faces, said primaryplate provided With apertured lateral extensions projecting therefrom,contiguous to said ribs, an auxiliary plate provided With an annularextension formed integral upon its upper surface, said annular extensionprovided with notches formed upon its periphery, said primary plateprovided With an extension projecting doWn- Wardly therefrom and adaptedto be positioned Within the annular extension of said auxiliary plate,and means securing said plates together.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

GEORGE EDWARD RUMRILL.

Witnesses:

CHARLES H. ELDRED, JOHN J. ELDRED.

